By Trey McCurry.

Blacksburg, VA – Clemson took an early 3-0 lead, but couldn’t score after the first inning as Virginia Tech rallied for a 4-3 win in 12 innings.

Zack Erwin went 7.1 innings and gave up eight hits, three runs and three earned runs.  He left in the eighth with a runner on first who eventually came around to score off the pen to tie the game.  Clate Schmidt gave up a run that tied the game in the eighth, but then went 3.1 innings before giving up the  winning run in the 12th.

Clemson jumped out to a lead in the first.  Tyler Slaton reached on an error.  Steven Duggar doubled to score Slaton.  With two outs Chris Okey singled to score Duggar.  Okey went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error on a ball hit by Pinder.  Tigers led 3-0 after top of first.

Virginia Tech plated a run in the bottom of the first and another in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Hokies tied the game in the eighth.  Erwin left the game after giving up a leadoff single.  Drew Moyer came in, but his stay was short as he walked the first batter.  Alex Bostic came in and got a ground ball for the second out.  Schmidt came in and walked his first batter then allowed a run on a wild pitch.  After eight the game was tied 3-3.

Clemson had their chances to take the lead in the 11th and 12th but couldn’t get the bit hit.  In the bottom of the 11th the Reed Rohlman hit a shot with the bases loaded and two outs but it was caught by the second baseman.  In the 11th Weston Wilson hit a one out triple.  Chase Pinder grounded out and Eli White went down on strikes as the Tiger’s stranded Wilson at third.

Virginia Tech got a bases loaded single in the bottom of the 12th to take the victory and keep the Tiger’s from a much needed sweep.

With the loss the Tigers fell to 11-11 on the season and 4-5 in the ACC.